What is the draft strategy about?

Ecological revitalisation or restoration achieves and sustains thriving, healthy, functioning ecosystems - This outcome includes six different objectives, each with its own steps and actions. These include creation of a definitive plan for the physical layout and functionality of the lagoon that puts the health of Waitarakao first, and steps to increase effective predator control.

Increase makiha kai to enable customary harvest of food and resources that were traditionally gathered from the area, ki uta ki tai - This outcome includes first steps to improve the productive health of ecosystems to support targeted mahika kai species and their habitats, such as tuna (eel) and inaka (whitebait), as well as rare plants and kaimoana that live on the reef.

Enable the community to appropriately interact with the catchment - There are three objectives for this outcome and these include first steps to ensure there’s resources available for people to understand the significance of the catchment, as well as clear signage and information about access and active transport links.

The community is informed about, and involved in, the restoration of the mauri (life force) of the Waitarakao catchment - The two objectives for this outcome reflect the local community’s wish to be strongly involved in the restoration process and include steps to ensure a wide range of people, organisations, and interest groups can undertake actions together.

Resilience planning reduces the environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts of natural hazards - This outcome has six objectives including the development of the next generation of coastal hazard defences to protect adjacent environments, landowners, and businesses.